Kansas City Marriage Records

Kansas City marriage records are held by the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds, not by any city office. As the largest city in Missouri, Kansas City sits in Jackson County where marriage license files date back to 1826. If you want to look up a marriage record, get a certified copy, or plan to apply for a new license, the county Recorder of Deeds handles all of it. You can search for Kansas City marriage records online, by mail, or with a trip to the courthouse in nearby Independence. This page walks through where to go, what it costs, and how the process works.

Jackson County Marriage Filings

Kansas City does not have its own vital records office for marriage licenses. In Missouri, the county Recorder of Deeds handles all marriage license applications, filings, and record keeping. For Kansas City residents, that means Jackson County. The Recorder of Deeds office is at the Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence. This is the only place in Jackson County where you can apply for a marriage license. The downtown Kansas City courthouse location no longer processes marriage licenses.

Both people who plan to marry must go to the Truman Courthouse together. You need a valid photo ID like a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. Bring your Social Security number too. If you were married before, know the month and year your last marriage ended. There is no blood test and no waiting period in Missouri. You can walk in and get your license the same day.

Kansas City Marriage License Office

The Jackson County Recorder of Deeds serves all Kansas City residents who need marriage records. The screenshot below shows the Jackson County marriage license search portal where you can look up existing records.

The online search tool lets you look up marriage records by name or date at no cost. For certified copies, you will need to contact the office or visit in person.

Note: Applications are typically accepted until 4:00 PM to allow processing time before the office closes.

Marriage License Fees in Kansas City

A new marriage license costs $50 in Jackson County. This is what Kansas City residents pay when they apply at the Truman Courthouse. You also get the option to buy a certified copy at the time of your application for $10. Certified copies purchased later cost about the same. The fee goes toward the Children's Trust Fund, county general revenue, and state filing charges as set out in Chapter 451 RSMo.

Jackson County allows couples to file their own completed marriage license after the ceremony. Most Missouri counties require the officiant to return the signed license, but Jackson County gives couples that option too. The officiant or the couple must return the completed license within 15 days of the wedding. Two witnesses need to sign the license at the ceremony. Once filed, the marriage record becomes a public document in Jackson County.

If you need the license for a name change with Social Security or another agency, ask for a certified copy. Plain copies work for personal records but most government offices want the certified version with the Recorder's seal on it.

Search Kansas City Marriage Records Online

Jackson County offers a free online search for marriage records. The Jackson County Marriage Records Search lets you look up records by name. You can also start your marriage license application online to save time at the office. The online tool covers records from 1826 to the present, though older records may have limited detail in the digital index.

The state also keeps marriage records. The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City has maintained a central index of all Missouri marriages since July 1948. You can order certified copies from the state office if needed. The Missouri State Archives holds microfilm copies of Jackson County marriage records from 1826, which can help with genealogy searches or older filings that don't show up in the county's online system.

Note: Online searches are free but certified copies ordered through the county office cost $10 each.

Kansas City Marriage License Steps

Getting a marriage license for a Kansas City wedding is a straightforward process. Missouri law under RSMo 451 sets the basic rules that apply across all 114 counties. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. There is no waiting period and no blood test. The license is good for 30 days from the date it is issued and can be used anywhere in Missouri.

Here is what you need to bring to the Truman Courthouse:

• Valid photo ID for both applicants (driver's license, passport, state ID, or military ID)
• Social Security number for each person
• $50 in payment for the license fee
• Month and year your last marriage ended, if you were married before

One thing that sets Jackson County apart from many other Missouri counties is the divorce waiting period. Under Missouri law, there is a 30-day waiting period after a divorce is finalized before you can get a new marriage license. Jackson County does not strictly enforce this rule. Still, it is good to know the law exists. After the ceremony, your officiant or you and your spouse must file the completed license with the Jackson County Recorder within 15 days. The marriage becomes part of the permanent public record once that filing is done.

Historical Marriage Records

Jackson County has some of the oldest marriage records in the Kansas City area. Files go back to 1826, nearly two decades before Missouri became a major gateway to the West. The Recorder of Deeds office has microfilm and original book entries for these early records. Researchers and genealogists can view them at the Truman Courthouse or check the Missouri State Archives for microfilm copies.

FamilySearch also has digitized Missouri marriage records that can help with family history research. Their collection includes indexed records from many Missouri counties, including Jackson County. Marriage records in Missouri are public under the Missouri Sunshine Law, so anyone can request copies regardless of whether they are named in the record. You don't need to give a reason for your request.

Nearby Cities

Several other cities in Jackson County share the same Recorder of Deeds office for marriage records. If you live in one of these cities, you use the same Truman Courthouse location in Independence for all marriage license services.

Jackson County Marriage Records

For full details on the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds, including all fees, office hours, and online search tools, visit the county page. The county page covers everything that applies to Kansas City and all other Jackson County cities.